Satellite > HughesNet Satellite > Possible problems for SatMex5 (117W) Hughes users

Other satellites that had been awaiting an ILS launch in the coming weeks include the EchoStar 16 satellite owned by EchoStar Corp. of Englewood, Colo.; the Yamal 402 satellite owned by Gazprom Space Systems of Moscow; and the Satmex 8 satellite owned by Satmex of Mexico.

The Satmex 8 launch is perhaps the most time-sensitive among the missions on the ILS manifest. Satmex 8, built by Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, Calif., is to replace the Satmex 5 satellite currently in orbit. Satmex 5 suffered a failure of its electric-propulsion system early in its life and has been forced to rely on its backup chemical-propulsion system.

Satmex has estimated that Satmex 5 has sufficient fuel to operate until February before it must be moved to a graveyard orbit. If Satmex 8 is not in service at the time of Satmex 5's retirement, Satmex has said, it could deal a blow to the company's still-fragile financial condition by forcing Satmex 5 customers to seek alternative bandwidth suppliers.